Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed in the first quarter of “Monday Night Football” in a game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
An ambulance arrived on the field, and Hamlin received CPR for nearly 10 minutes. Emotional players and coaches stood by, and the Bills got down on their knees to pray.
Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the announcers of the ESPN broadcast said. Family members were with him, they said.
The game was suspended and both teams retired to their locker rooms.
The ESPN broadcast team calling the game and their colleagues at the network studio were also excited.
“Monday Night Football” is an ESPN Production airing on ABC.
Hamlin, 24, punched Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, got to his feet and then fell on his back.
The Buffalo Bills tweeted “Bills Mafia is with you, @HamlinIsland”, referring to the player and a name for Bills fans. The Bengals were among the teams that responded with a praying hands emoji.
The game was suspended with 5:58 left in the first quarter. More than half an hour later, it was unclear if play would resume.
In the broadcast you could see the players of both teams outside their changing rooms.
The NFL Players Association, which is the union of players, tweeted “Sending big prayers and love to” Hamlin.
Hamlin is a native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, which is near Pittsburgh, and was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
The Pittsburgh Steelers too tweeted “We send our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin, her family” and the Buffalo Bills.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
